Booker T. Washington was a prominent African American educator, author, and leader in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born into slavery in 1856 in Virginia and went on to become one of the most influential black leaders of his time. Washington was known for his emphasis on vocational education and economic self-reliance for African Americans.

He founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881, which focused on providing practical education and training in skilled trades for African Americans. Washington believed that by acquiring useful skills and becoming economically self-sufficient, African Americans could gain respect and acceptance in society.

Washington's approach to racial progress, known as the "Atlanta Compromise," emphasized the importance of gradual economic advancement and accommodation with the white establishment. While some criticized him for not being militant enough in his calls for racial equality, Washington's pragmatism and emphasis on self-improvement resonated with many African Americans at the time.

He was a prolific author and speaker, and his autobiography "Up from Slavery" remains a classic work in African American literature. Booker T. Washington's legacy as a leader and educator continues to be remembered and studied in Black history.